I really ought to have liked this book; it is definitely a well written sci-fi dystopian future showcasing the dangers of censorship and muses on humanity's innately cyclical self-destruction.


But here is why I do not like Fahrenheit 451:

1. I liked the story of how Ray Bradbury wrote the novel more than the novel itself.

2. The narrative's society becomes illiterate and stupid because these things seem to lead to easy happiness. In his defense, Bradbury could have never predicted the future popularity of "50 Shades of Grey." The printed word is not inherently intelligent, nor is it the only way to spread ideas.

3. Explanations for the importance of literature are only provided with a heavy-handed form of pseudo-intellectualism. These elements could have been better developed.

4. Clarisse is the only interesting character, but to explain further would be a spoiler.

5. All other women seem innately vapid and dumb for mysterious feminine reasons. Boring.

6. Did I mention yet how much I hate the main character? He is this dumb guy who reads a book, thinks this makes him woke, and then he decides the world is full of inauthentic phonies. Boring.

7. The resistance's method for saving books is inherently flawed. The method itself seems to emphasize the importance of a living man's ego over information itself, thereby defeating the purpose.


But really, just read the damn classic and decide for yourself.